KEY POINTS:
Black Power leaders and police have reached a landmark agreement for the gang to "colour down" in an effort to reduce gang tensions in Whakatane.
The accord follows a violent street battle that erupted between about 30 Black Power members and Opotiki Mongrel Mob members in downtown Kopeopeo
on June 28.
A sword, knives, wooden bats and planks of wood were used as weapons in the vicious all-in brawl, which took place amid crowds of schoolchildren making their way home.
It began after patched Mongrel Mob members gathered in Kopeopeo to await the release of a body of one of their members from a funeral parlour.
Local Black Power members took exception to their presence and display of gang regalia leading to a violent clash.
Senior Sergeant Bruce Jenkins, of the Whakatane police, said they were also aware of "further simmering of tensions" last weekend in central Whakatane, involving local and out-of-town gang members outside bars late at night.
Whakatane has for many years been known as a Black Power town, while outlying areas, including Taneatua and Kawerau, are Mongrel Mob strongholds.
Mr Jenkins said that following the Kopeopeo brawl, police and Black Power hierarchy had come together in an endeavour to prevent any more violence and quell tensions.
All members of the gang had agreed to ban the wearing of patches, bandannas and other regalia while in town.
Opotiki police had held similar talks with the Opotiki Mongrel Mob about the June 28 incident.
The agreement did not go as far as one in Wanganui, where the district council had moved to create a bylaw to ban gang regalia and colours from the central business district and all other public places in the city.
Mr Jenkins said the agreement to colour down would go a long way to making Whakatane a safer place, enabling Black Power to maintain a passive presence and be part of the community, without creating friction.
"This effectively means Whakatane is a patch and gang regalia free town, which outsiders also need to take notice of."
Police were also working to identify and address the underlying causes of last weekend's tensions and had called another meeting with local gang leaders to help speed the constructive dialogue between all parties.
Mr Jenkins said police had impressed on the gangs the need to take a more mature and responsible attitude and not resort to violence as a means of settling their differences.
"Things have been working well up until recently and we want to restore any mutual understanding or unwritten rules that have been in place, which has seen very little gang tension over the past few years.
"A gang war in Whakatane would have a huge social and economic impact. Both gangs need to step back and let the police do their job. This includes staying away from town if they can't help but taunt each other.
Police would also visit local bars and licensees, in an endeavour to identify and trespass any troublemakers.
"Both sides need to get a very clear message - that anyone found stepping out of line will be dealt with very firmly by the police."
Four Black Power gang members were arrested following the June 28 fracas and charged with rioting, participating in an organised criminal group, possession of offensive weapons, obstructing police and resisting arrest.
They have appeared in Whakatane District Court and remanded on bail to July 17.
- NZPA
